Wave motor

Abstract

A wave motor is described comprising a float, a displaceable member coupled to the float so as to be displaced by the ascent and descent of the float, a pair of shafts, and a transmission including a pair of one-way clutches coupling the displaceable member to the shafts to rotate one in one direction during the ascent of the float and to rotate the other in the opposite direction during the descent of the float. In one described embodiment, the displaceable member is a wheel which is partially rotated in opposite directions by the ascent and descent of the float; and in a second described embodiment, the displaceable member is a rack which is moved upwardly by the ascent of the float and downwardly by its descent.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wave motor, comprising: a first float; a first displaceable member coupled to said float so as to be displaced through a forward stroke by the ascent of the float, and through a return stroke by the descent of the float; a pair of shafts; a first transmission coupling said displaceable member to said pair of shafts; said transmission including a first one-way clutch coupling the first displaceable member to one shaft to rotate same in one direction during the displacement of said member through its forward stroke, and a second one-way clutch coupling the first displaceable member to the other shaft to rotate same in the opposite direction during the displacement of the member through its return stroke; a second float; a second displaceable member coupled to said second float so as to be displaced by the ascent and descent thereof; and a second transmission including third and fourth one-way clutches coupling said second displaceable member to said pair of shafts such that the displacement of the second member rotates said one shaft in said one direction and said other shaft in said opposite direction. 
     
     
       2. A wave motor according to claim 1, wherein each of said displaceable members is a wheel coupled to its respective float so as to be partially rotated in one direction during the ascent of its respective float, and partially rotated in the opposite direction during the descent of its respective float, each of said wheels and one-way clutches including teeth, and each of said transmissions comprising a separate closed-loop chain trained around the teeth of its respective wheel and of its respective two one-way clutches. 
     
     
       3. A wave motor, comprising: a float; a displaceable member coupled to said float so as to be displaced through a forward stroke by the ascent of the float, and through a return stroke by the descent of the float; a pair of shafts; and a transmission coupling said displaceable member to said pair of shafts; said transmission including a first one-way clutch coupling the displaceable member to one shaft to rotate same in one direction during the displacement of said member through its forward stroke, and a second one-way clutch coupling the displaceable member to the other shaft to rotate same in the opposite direction during the displacement of the member through its return stroke; said pair of shafts being coupled to a common output drive shaft, one by a direct-motion coupling, and the other by a motion-reversing coupling, so that said common output drive shaft is driven in the same direction by said pair of oppositely rotating shafts. 
     
     
       4. A wave motor according to claim 3, wherein there are a plurality of drive units each including at least one of said floats, displaceable members, and transmissions, all coupled to said pair of shafts for driving same in opposite directions. 
     
     
       5. A wave motor, comprising: a float; a displaceable member coupled to said float so as to be displaced through a forward stroke by the ascent of the float, and through a return stroke by the descent of the float; a pair of shafts; and a transmission coupling said displaceable member to said pair of shafts; said transmission including a first one-way clutch coupling the displaceable member to one shaft to rotate same in one direction during the displacement of said member through its forward stroke, and a second one-way clutch coupling the displaceable member to the other shaft to rotate same in the opposite direction during the displacement of the member through its return stroke; said displaceable member comprising a rack coupled to said float so as to be displaced through an upward stroke by the ascent of the float and through a downward stroke by the descent of the float; said transmission coupling said float to said pair of shafts comprising teeth formed on said rack meshing with gears coupled by said one-way clutches to said pair of shafts to rotate one shaft in one direction during the upward stroke of the rack, and to rotate the other shaft in the opposite direction during the downward stroke of the rack. 
     
     
       6. A wave motor according to claim 5, wherein there are a plurality of drive units, each including a float, a rack, and a pair of one-way clutches, said pair of shafts being driven by all the floats each coupled to one of the racks, each rack being coupled to said pair of shafts via one pair of said one-way clutches. 
     
     
       7. A wave motor according to claim 6, further including a common housing for said plurality of drive units, the latter extending longitudinally of the housing, and mounting means mounting the housing above a body of water subject to waves with the float of each drive unit depending from opposite sides of the housing so as to be caused to ascend and descend by said waves.